Key Points
- England secured an 82-0 victory against France in Perth to keep their Rugby League World Cup semi-final hopes alive following an opening 30-12 defeat to Tonga.
- Captain George Williams set up the opening try after a nervous first quarter where England committed six early errors.
- Herbie Farnworth scored a first-half hat-trick, while Dom Young also bagged a treble as England posted 14 converted tries in total.
- Half-back Hugo Savala contributed 26 points from the boot, kicking 13 goals from 14 attempts.
- Full-back AJ Brimson delivered a dominant performance with extensive yardage, line breaks, and a late try to complete the scoring.
- Additional tries were added by Matty Ashton, Victor Radley, Jez Litten, Mikey Lewis (2), Jack Welsby, and George Williams.
- To reach the semi-finals for the first time without missing out in World Cup history, England must defeat Papua New Guinea in Wollongong and rely on Tonga beating Samoa.
Perth (France News7) october 24, 2026 – England revived their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a resounding 82-0 victory over France in Perth, responding to an intense points-difference requirement following an earlier 30-12 loss to Tonga. After watching Samoa and Tonga register massive scorelines, England required a dominant performance to remain in contention for a semi-final berth. Despite a tense opening 20 minutes marked by six handling errors, England scored six converted tries before half-time and added eight more in the second period to finish with 14 tries. The result surpasses Samoa’s recent 74-point win over the French, though England’s qualification still hinges on their final group fixture against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong and the outcome of the match between Tonga and Samoa.
How Did England Overcome Their Nervous Start Against France?
During the initial quarter of the match, England appeared constrained by the pressure of necessary mathematical permutations. The team registered six errors inside the opening 20 minutes, giving France temporary opportunities in attack. France threatened sporadically during this period, but simple handling mistakes prevented them from converting territory into points.
The breakthrough for England occurred in the 23rd minute. Captain George Williams, who had faced criticism following the defeat by Tonga, broke through the defensive line and executed a behind-the-back pass to set up Dom Young in the corner.
Shortly after the opening try, full-back AJ Brimson initiated a breakaway that allowed Matty Ashton to score in the corner, recording his seventh try in six Test appearances. Ashton had previously dropped the ball over the try line earlier in the match but converted this second opportunity.
At the 27-minute mark, Harry Smith identified a gap in the defensive line to set up Herbie Farnworth for his first try. Nine minutes later, after repelling a brief period of French pressure, Farnworth crossed the line for his second score. Williams subsequently powered over beneath the crossbars to push the scoreline to 30-0.
Just prior to the half-time whistle, England executed a slick passing sequence to the right edge, where Young redirected the ball back inside for Farnworth to complete his first-half hat-trick, sending England into the break with a 36-0 lead.
How Did the Second Half Unfold in Perth?
Eight minutes into the second half, Young chased down a grubber kick to score his second try and push England past the 40-point mark. Soon after, interchange hooker Jez Litten and Williams broke through the French defensive line, enabling Victor Radley to score unopposed.
France mounted a temporary attack deep in England’s territory, but after defending their line, England counter-attacked. Litten scored from close range to extend the advantage. Mikey Lewis then added try number 10 following another line break initiated by Brimson.
On the restart, France attempted a short kick-off which was gathered by Young, who ran the distance to complete his hat-trick. Within a four-minute window, Jack Welsby added the 12th try as the French defense tired. Lewis then registered his second try of the match by breaking through two tackles, bringing the score past Samoa’s 74-0 margin recorded against France earlier in the tournament.
In the closing stages, England defended deep in their own half to preserve a clean sheet before Brimson broke through the defense to score England’s 14th try, bringing the final score to 82-0.
Throughout the match, half-back Hugo Savala provided accuracy from the kicking tee, converting 13 of his 14 attempts to accumulate 26 individual points. Brimson was pivotal throughout the contest, contributing significant yardage, multiple line breaks, defusing French kicks, and creating opportunities for his outside backs.
What Is the Background of This Development?
The 82-0 result comes in the context of a tight group stage standard in the Rugby League World Cup. England entered the fixture in Perth under significant pressure following a 30-12 defeat against Tonga in their opening group game. Subsequent large-margin victories by Tonga and Samoa—including Samoa’s 62-6 win over Papua New Guinea—left England with a 150-point deficit in points difference relative to Samoa prior to kick-off.
Historically, England has reached the semi-final stage of every Rugby League World Cup in which they have participated. France, by contrast, has not reached the semi-finals of the tournament since 1992. Under the current tournament rules, if Tonga defeats Samoa in their upcoming group fixture, secondary qualification places between the tied teams will be determined primarily by overall points difference across all group matches.
How Could This Result Affect the World Cup Qualification Outlook?
This development directly impacts the qualification scenarios for the teams remaining in Group B, specifically influencing England, Samoa, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea, as well as tournament organizers and supporters analyzing semi-final matchups.
- For England: The 82-0 victory significantly narrows the points-difference gap between England and Samoa. However, England remains reliant on two conditions: securing another high-margin win against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday, and having Tonga defeat Samoa in their final group fixture on Sunday. If Samoa defeats Tonga, or if England fails to overcome Papua New Guinea, England faces potential elimination before the semi-final stage for the first time in their World Cup history.
- For Samoa and Tonga: Samoa retains control over their qualification status due to their existing points difference and upcoming match against Tonga. A victory for Samoa guarantees their passage to the semi-finals. For Tonga, a win over Samoa secures their own progression while simultaneously opening the second qualification spot to be determined by the final points tally between Samoa and England.
- For France: The loss marks the end of France’s realistic prospects of advancing in the 2026 tournament, underscoring the ongoing structural and performance gap between top-tier nations and developing rugby league programs ahead of future international scheduling.
